Wet track won't worry Tallentire, says Browne

Relevant offers

Jumps trainer Ann Browne hasn't made the trip south from Cambridge to Taranaki for a few years.

"I've only got eight horses in work and they're jumpers," she said yesterday.

"They don't have many jumps events down there. It would be three or four years since I was last in Taranaki. Browne is bringing two horses south for today's Egmont Racing Club meeting at Hawera.

Tallentire will line up in the feature event, the $12,000 Kevin Myers Racing Stables Restricted Open Steeplechase over 4000m, with Ima Dancer in the opening event, the $7000 Borrack Maiden Hurdle over 2980m.

"They don't mind it wet," Browne said. "Tallentire's probably the best bred horse in the race. When he won over steeples it was quite wet. He lost his rider at his last start at Te Aroha and didn't really have a race. He goes all right."

Browne said Ima Dancer was a chance in the hurdles. "He's not hopeless, but maybe a better steeplechaser."

New Plymouth trainer John Wheeler is in for a busy day, with six runners lining up.

Here's how Wheeler rates each of them:

Race 1, Thomond Park: "I'm very happy with him. He had a run on the flat last week and should be fit enough. He's a good jumper."

Race 2, Chivas Royale: "Take on trust. He hasn't shown that much on the flat, but jumping should be his forte."

Race 3, Izzyosler: "Won over steeples and he's coming back to hurdles. I couldn't get a suitable rider for him in the steeples. He's not ideally suited by the hurdles, but should go close."

Race 4, Continuance: "I've only had him for one run and he got his tongue over the bit. He'll go close."

Race 5, I Gotta Feeling: "She should go close. She's got the best rider in the field."